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Who to start · 2025-26

Pavel Buchnevich vs Rickard Rakell

Pavel BuchnevichPavel BuchnevichBlues · Left wingvsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.

Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.

Rickard Rakell has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Buchnevich's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 26, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.022, Sequence xG 52.5%.

Rakell's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hits 71.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Pavel Buchnevich

1.30

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBuchnevichRakell
Goals (+2)0.460.75
Assists (+1)0.320.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.160.27
Hits (+0.1)0.030.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.230.34

Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Buchnevich vs Rakell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BuchnevichRakell
2Team record in 9 meetings7
5Points in those games9

Buchnevich 3G 2A, 24 SOG · Rakell 3G 6A, 25 SOG

0Hits on each other1

Games against each other

Games between Pavel Buchnevich and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreBuchnevichRakell
2025-04-03STL 5–4 PIT1G 0A 1S1G 1A 5S
2025-03-13STL 3–5 PIT0G 1A 3S1G 1A 2S
2023-12-30STL 2–4 PIT0G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2023-02-25STL 2–3 PIT1G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2022-12-03STL 2–6 PIT1G 0A 4S0G 0A 5S
2021-12-12STL 2–3 ANA0G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S
2019-12-14NYR 3–4 ANA0G 0A 4S0G 3A 3S
2018-01-23NYR 3–6 ANA0G 1A 2S1G 0A 1S
2017-12-19NYR 4–1 ANA0G 0A 2S0G 0A 4S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BuchnevichRakell

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.

Pavel Buchnevich

2games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −16.8 win%vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)

Rickard Rakell

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
Who is better, Pavel Buchnevich or Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Buchnevich and Rakell done against each other?
In 9 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 2–7. Buchnevich had 5 points (3 goals) and Rakell had 9 (3 goals).

2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →